Tamara Ralph (born 29 November 1981) is an Australian fashion designer who is the former Creative Director and co-founder of Ralph & Russo.[1] She is the founder of her eponymous label, Tamara Ralph.

Tamara Ralph
[[File:
{{{caption}}}
|650px|alt=
{{{caption}}}
]]
Born
Tamara Miguel Ralph

(1981-11-29) 29 November 1981 (age 42)
Sydney, Australia
EducationCaringbah High School
Whitehouse Institute of Design
OccupationCreative Director & Co-founder
EmployerTamara Ralph
Websitetamararalph.com

Early life and education

edit

Ralph was born on 29 November 1981 in the Sutherland Shire[2] and is the fourth generation in her family to work in couture and fashion design.[3] After graduating from the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne, Australia, Ralph moved to London in hopes of breaking into the fashion industry.[4]

Career

edit

In 2010, she founded a fashion house, Ralph & Russo with Michael Russo in Mayfair, London.[5] The fashion house focused on the city's rich history of couture fashion houses.[6] As a creative director, Ralph has designed high end clothing and accessories for celebrities including, Beyoncé,[7] Rihanna,[8] Angelina Jolie,[9] Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Bella Hadid,[10] and others.[11] Ralph also designed the bespoke interior of Ralph & Russo boutiques.[12]

Ralph collaborated with several other labels including Audemars Piguet,[13][14] Disney,[15] Linda Farrow,[16] and others on different occasions. She has also designed Meghan Markle’s engagement dress for her marriage to Prince Harry.[17]

She became the first female Creative Director from the UK in nearly 100 years deemed eligible to show during Paris Haute Couture week.[18] She has been recognised by Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar for her achievements, together with her inclusion into fashion publications such as Fortune magazine's 40 under 40 list, the BOF 500 [19][20][21][22] and in 2016 was awarded the "Outstanding Achievement Award" at the Walpole British Luxury Awards.[23][24] She often appears at charity events and helped with 2019–20 Australian bushfire charity event[25] and ‘To India, With Love’.[25]

In 2023, Ralph founded her eponymous luxury fashion brand, Tamara Ralph Couture. The inaugural collection was showcased at the AW23-24 Paris Haute Couture Week.[26]

Personal life

edit

Ralph was previously in a relationship with her business partner Michael Russo.[27][28] Since 2020, Ralph has been in a relationship with British-Indian businessman Bhanu Choudhrie. They have one child together, who was born in 2021.[29]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Ralph & Russo rescue in doubt as Tamara Ralph leaves". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ Kolimar, Eva (18 May 2018). "Royal wedding: Sutherland's Tamara Ralph of Ralph & Russo top pick to dress Meghan Markle". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Pieces of Me: Tamara Ralph of Ralph & Russo on Home Comforts and Spiritual Healing". Vogue Arabia. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. ^ Hougaz, Laura (2019). Entrepreneurs Creating Educational Innovation: Case Studies From Australia. Springer Nature. p. 115. ISBN 978-3-030-28655-2. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. ^ Jackson, Laura (8 December 2008). "Ralph & Russo". Drapers. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  6. ^ Mair, Avril (12 March 2018). "Fantasy made real: Bazaar meets Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  7. ^ Overman, Melissa (28 November 2014). "Aussie designer Tamara Ralph is taking the fashion world by storm". news.com.au. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Rihanna Shines Bright at the Diamond Ball". Vogue. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  9. ^ Newbold, Alice. "Angelina Jolie Shines In Ralph & Russo's Opulent Couture At London's Maleficent Premiere". British Vogue. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. ^ Alex, Ella (15 August 2017). "Why you should be excited about Ralph & Russo's debut ready-to-wear collection". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Angelina Jolie, Aishwarya Rai to Priyanka Chopra: Celebs who SIZZLED in Designer of the week: Ralph and Russo | PINKVILLA". www.pinkvilla.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Ralph & Russo opens new store in Monaco, Monte Carlo". Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Audemars Piguet X Ralph & Russo: A Luxury Dream Team". About Her. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Love for craftsmanship underscores Audemars Piguet and Ralph & Russo's new collab, with watch finishes that mimic embroidery and designs for smaller wrists". The Hindu. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  15. ^ McDermott, Kerry. "Ralph & Russo Spent Almost 700 Hours Creating A Custom Gown For Maleficent". British Vogue. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  16. ^ Wightman-Stone, Danielle (16 February 2021). "Ralph and Russo adds sunglasses with Linda Farrow". FashionUnited. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Everything to Know About Ralph & Russo, Meghan Markle's Reported Wedding Dress Designer | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  18. ^ "UK’s first Paris fashion coup for a century" The Sunday Times, Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  19. ^ "British Couture Comes to Harrods", Vogue UK, Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Midas Touch: Bazaar Meets Ralph & Russo", Harper’s Bazaar, Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  21. ^ "40 Under 40 2013", Fortune, Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  22. ^ "#BOF500 2016: Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo", Business of Fashion, Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Fantasy made real: Bazaar meets Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo", Harpers Bazaar, Retrieved 19 January 2018
  24. ^ "Michael Russo Lays Out Ralph & Russo’s Big Brand Ambitions", WWD, Retrieved 19 January 2018
  25. ^ a b Kamath, Akanksha. "Vogue India and the Natasha and Adar Poonawalla Foundation present 'To India, With Love'". Vogue India. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  26. ^ Slater, Sasha (15 September 2023). "Meghan Markle's engagement dress designer, Tamara Ralph, on the launch of her new label". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  27. ^ Paton, Elizabeth (25 February 2021). "When the Romance Ends, but the Brand Goes On". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  28. ^ "For Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo, the show must go on: Amid redesigned relationship, the brand stays strong". Firstpost. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  29. ^ Paton, Elizabeth (25 February 2021). "When the Romance Ends, but the Brand Goes On". New York Times. Retrieved 3 March 2022.